Turkey: Appeal No. 01.47/2002 operations update No. 01

This Programme Update is intended for reporting on Annual Appeals.
Appeal Target: CHF 11,288,007
Period covered: 1 January - 31 March 2002

"At a Glance"

Appeal coverage:102%
Related Appeals: N/A
Outstanding needs: None

Operational Developments:

During this reporting period the humanitarian situation in Turkey has been affected by a strong earthquake in Afyon followed by continuing aftershocks, cold weather conditions and economic/social developments.

Earthquakes/Tremors

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale struck the Western Anatolian province Afyon at 9.15 a.m on February 3. The epicenter of the quake was the town of Sultandagi and the towns of Bolvadin and Cay were hardest hit. The devastating earthquake caused the deaths of 43 people and some 300 others were wounded, and left more than 15,000 homeless. An estimated 4,351 homes were heavily or moderately damaged and 6,901 slightly. The region was also shaken by several strong aftershocks. The quake could also be felt in the central Anatolian provinces of Ankara, Burdur, Isparta, Eskisehir, Kocaeli and Sakarya.

Marmara Sea and Hakkari province were shaken respectively on February 28, both with magnitudes of 4.8 on the Richter scale. A mild earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale shook Turgutlu township of Manisa province on January 21. A series of 205 tremors, measuring 3.0 to 4.5 on the Richter scale, were recorded during this reporting period. Meanwhile, there were number of earthquakes occurred in Mediterranean Sea during the months of January and February measuring 4.5 to 5.4 on the Richter scale.

Heavy Snowfalls

Turkey has suffered from heavy snowfall and bad weather conditions in the early days of the new year. Life came to a standstill during January, in most cities and villages throughout the country. Schools were closed even in Istanbul and Ankara. Bad weather caused hitches in transportation and traffic, although government crews worked hard to keep main roads open.

Economic/Social Developments

The Central Bank released its official monetary policy for 2002 with a report entitled "Monetary and Foreign Currency Policy and Possible Developments in 2002". According to the report the system of floating foreign currency would continue this year and that a policy focusing on next quarters inflation would be pursued. The report further stated that all the targets towards ensuring financial discipline and reconstruction would be met.

The International Monetary Fund is expected to provide $10 billion in additional financing for the governments new economic program just after discussing Turkeys Letter of Intent.

The World Bank had decided to start supporting the Village-City project with an initial investment of $300 million. This project is very innovative and important for Turkey. Particularly in rural areas, the villagers will have better services.

Two Greek municipalities announced that they would help to establish an early warning system for the Turkish city of Yalova with a 5 million euro grant for the EUs Marmara Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Program. The municipalities will play an important role in the reconstruction of Yalova under the guidance of Exandas, a fund established for that purpose. Yalova was the city hardest hit in the devastating 1999 earthquakes in Turkeys Marmara region.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a subsidiary of the World Bank, approved a $50 million loan to the Turkish National Reinsurance Corporation (TAS). TAS Directorate stated that they will use this loan as needed in the event of a devastating earthquake in Turkey.

Security

The National Security Council (NSC) chaired by President met end of January. The main topics discussed included: domestic and foreign threats to Turkeys security, the developments on the Cyprus issue and the current political situation on the island.

Turkey will sign a security agreement with Azerbaijan and Georgia in the interests of maintaining its military influence in the Caucasus region. This trilateral agreement would establish a coalition to fight against international terrorism and drug smuggling.

NATO has reportedly agreed to hand over the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to Turkey when the UKs leadership term ends after three months.

Meanwhile the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) participate in the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan with a unit of 261 including administrative staffs.

Disaster Response

Response to Afyon earthquake:

The TRCS responded rapidly and very effectively to the disaster. As soon as the disaster information was received at 09.20 on 03 February 2002, Kizilay alerted all its units and began to coordinate the disaster response with the office of the Prime Minister, GDDA, the crisis desks at the Afyon governorate and sub-provincial governorates. The tents were distributed via the Muhtars (community representative); with authorities instructing the community on how to set up tents. Immediately after the earthquake a tent site was established in coordination with the sub-provincial Crisis Desk and approximately 200 disaster victims were settled in the tent site established in the market place with support from the military. The same night the distribution of hot soup started at this tent site, followed by the distribution of tents, blankets, and catalytic LPG stoves, as well as hot soup for 1,000 people in Eber and for 3,000 people in Sultandagi. The TRCSs kitchens in the region have the capacity for 10,000 people.

So far the TRCS has sent 20,000 tents, 12,000 heating stoves, 50,000 blankets, 1 mobile kitchen, 12 field-kitchens, 6 S-3 type kitchens, 5 ambulances, 1 mobile clinic, adequate amount of food, 2300 bottled gas of 12 kg. In addition to that the TRCS provides 24 hours non-stop service with its relief team of 96 people together with health team of 3 doctors, 8 nurses and 2 technicians. The TRCS distributes hot meals, 3 courses a day to 18,600 people.

The Federation has participated jointly with the TRCS, American, Italian and German Red Cross Societies in monitoring of the situation and conducting assessment visits following the earthquake in Afyon. In order to demonstrate solidarity for the efforts of the TRCS while appreciating the ongoing response operation and service delivery. The Federation and TRCS met and discussed measures that were taken so far and agreed to make a follow-up on-the- site visit to explore extent of damage and accordingly to channel necessary support.

The AFOM (TRCS Disaster Operations Center) developed by TRCS and the American Red Cross was used extensively in coordinating the response activities with TRCS own field teams and local authorities in the affected area.

The Federation representatives visited the management of TEMAD (Turkey Emergency Management Directorate) together with UNDP/OCHA officers in order to discuss and share ideas on how to systematise disaster reporting.

The response to the earthquake provided a tremendous opportunity for TRCS, the Federation, and the PNS to evaluate the impacts of disaster preparedness and planning activities conducted over the last two years. The evaluation of the response activities covered several topics, in particular:

• needs assessment;
• provision of short-term shelter;
• distribution of tent stocks based on need;
• longer-term issues of tent ownership;
• need for on-going monitoring and assessment.

Providing solutions to these and other challenges that arose during the relief activities will allow the Federation and the PNS to base and firmly focus their collaborative disaster preparedness and organizational readiness activities with TRCS.

Based on the assessments and other sources, the American Red Cross is supporting the TRCS in distributing 10,000 hygiene kits, 2,000 kitchen sets, and 5,000 dry food packages to provide assistance to those most affected by the earthquake as they begin the recovery process. Distribution will begin once the relief materials are delivered in mid-March. Currently a joint American Red Cross-TRCS team is working in the affected area to develop detailed beneficiary lists, finalize the distribution plan. That team will likely remain in the field for the next two months to complete both the distribution and monitoring activities.

The American Red Cross together with the Federation Information Officer also developed a joint media plan for the distribution together with representatives from the TRCS Press and Public Affairs Department and the TRCS Relief Directorate.

The TRCS, ARC, and the Federation were able to document the distribution for publicity in a number of different venues. Follow-up surveying among the beneficiaries and local authorities will be completed within the following weeks.

In connection to that an emergency appeal was launched by the Federation Secretariat for the replenishment of TRCS stocks and psycho social services.

• The TRCS response to International appeals: In the month of February, TRCS donated 10,000 Swiss Francs to the Federation Congo Appeal. Due to the earthquake that occurred in Afghanistan on 26 March 2002, TRCS has sent the following relief items to the Afghanistan Red Crescent Society on 29 March: 50 conical tents; 3,000 blankets; 21 boxes medicine & medical material

Disaster Preparedness

The disaster preparedness activities carried out by the Federation and PNSs in order to support the TRCS during this reporting period are as follows:

A meeting was held on January 15 with a WFP consultant who was sent to Turkey to explore the in-country available resources as part of the contingency planning for possible crisis in Iraq. WFP is responsible for the delivery of the food component in case of natural and /or human-made disasters. The purpose of his visit to the delegation was therefore to explore the preparedness measures taken so far.

• A meeting was held by ICRC and the Federation, together with the TRCS on January 21 about the ongoing contingency planning for Iraq. The purpose of the meeting was to exchange ideas on the role of the components of the Movement if such a crisis is to arise.
• TRCS sent two participants for the regional DP meeting held in Bosnia between 25 and 29 January. The delegation assisted the TRCS participants in the preparation of their presentation materials.
• DP delegate together with the Information/Reporting Officer, visited the Kaynasli "CCP" centre and the ongoing training of trainers, facilitated by external experts. Purpose of the visit was to observe how the community-based program is handled.
• Copies of the Training modules were submitted to the president of the TRCS for his review and eventual approval before print.
• In early January, all the delegates of Turkey Delegation had the opportunity to take part at a two days work-shop on "Performance Development and Review", facilitated by the head of delegation of the Azerbaijan Delegation. The aim of the workshop was enhancing the managerial skills of the Delegates.
• The Federation, the American Red Cross, and the TRCS are also continuing planning and preparations for a Safe Building Conference to be held in Istanbul in the late spring of 2002. The second planning session of "Safe Building Conference" was held in Ankara on January 14 to detail further preparation plans that were put together during the first meeting held in Istanbul. These include finalising the topics to be covered, identification of resource persons or presenters, time and date, venue, conference participants, and the guest speakers. Representatives of government officers, academicians were informed about the idea and their opinions and evaluations were collected.
• An anthropologist who has given seminars to a number of institutions in Turkey, made a half-day presentation for the staffs of the delegation and the PNSs on "Anthropological Perspectives of Disaster Management" on January 8.
• A resource person will be assigned by the German Red Cross in due course for the training requested by TRCS for its staff who will be charged for packing, maintaining and re-opening the boxes of medical equipment and material at Yeniköy hospital.
• The German Red Cross is ready to continue providing resource persons for the induction courses organized by the Federation and TRCS as before.
• The American Red Cross has received final project approval from American Red Cross national headquarters for the branch disaster preparedness program in GOP (Istanbul) and Izmir branches. In mid-March the two branches will make a presentation to the TRCS headquarters on the final version of the program plan. Preparations are also being made for the American Red Cross to open sub-offices in both Istanbul and Izmir to support the branch programs in those locations.
• The Syrian Red Crescent (SRC) representatives visited the TRCS between 4 and 6 March, in order to develop a partnership between the two societies for Disaster Response and Preparedness. The TRCS has agreed to organise a DP/DR training workshop for SRC staff in May 2002. The Netherlands Red Cross will fund the planned workshop.
• The TRCS training department made a presentation on March 5, in order request funding for 3 project proposals on future trainings including Induction Course, Project Planning, and Communication Skills.
• Estimated budget for the projects is US $136,310 of which the TRCS has allocated 35% and need support for 65% of total cost.
• The Federations Head of Organisational Development (OD) was in Turkey from the 12th to 15th of March.
• He made a presentation to the TRCS senior management on OD and strategic planning. Meeting were also held with the PNSs in Turkey regarding OD and to find out their view points for the ongoing activities of TRCS.
• A Federation consultant designated to review the DP/DR training materials and training methodologies, visited Turkey between 28-29 of March. He visited the delegation and TRCS to find out the views of the technical staff on the ongoing Disaster Management Training programs, to explore possibilities and suggestions for improvement.
• The planned building work to rehabilitate the Erzurum Regional Warehouse has been formally assessed during the month of March, and the plan to share responsibilities between the BRCS and TRCS has been refined in the light of the extra works found necessary. In the meantime stock procurement in line with the project agreement has started, with tenders being opened on tents, blankets, kitchen sets and sleeping bags.
• The American Red Cross and the TRCS are finalizing plans for the Local Service Delivery project to be undertaken with two TRCS branches in Istanbul-GOP and Izmir. These projects will begin officially in April. In the meantime the start-up activities are proceeding for the Disaster Information Center (BILMER) as a joint project of the American Red Cross and the TRCS. BILMER will focus on gathering risk and hazard information to help inform the TRCS disaster planning efforts and on developing community disaster education information to disseminate to the public. The American Red Cross has also begun a new round of conversations with the TRCS Response Directorate about ways in which the ARC can support TRCS recent planning initiatives and TRCS visions for the future of its disaster management roles.

Construction

The construction programme of the Federation, covering 2 hospitals, 3 schools and 1 rehabilitation centre, are progressing well.

Duzce State Hospital: Discussions on drawing revisions and cost differences caused by the revisions have been completed with mutual agreements. Mechanical and electrical system works have been completed 90 % in the construction of Düzce State Hospital. Ministry of Labour has informed about the planned completion date and requested to proceed the furnishing the hospital. The target completion date is April 30.

Korfez State Hospital: The contractor has mobilised, removed the rubbles dumped by the Municipality and cleaned the construction site in January. Foundation works has started in March. The contractor has been given 2-month time extension due to the levelling problem.

Cubuklu Primary School: The construction of a retaining wall has been completed in the month of January.The temporary acceptance was held on February 20th and the inauguration will be held in due course.

Inkilip Primary School: It was agreed with the governor that the costs which exceed the amount specified in the MoU will be covered by the Kocaeli Directorate of Education and the contractor. The construction of Inkilap Primary School has been completed with its infrastructure and landscaping with a 25-day delay without any problem. The Directorate wants to have the inauguration soon.

Samat Primary School: Infrastructure works, which were undertook by the Bolu Provincial Directorate of Education have been completed. The school is now waiting for to be furnished and for landscaping to be accomplished.

Yalova Mental Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre: Design and tender preparation works for Yalova Mental Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre are being done simultaneously. Following the completion of the design stage which was extended 2 weeks, the relevant parties will have 2 more weeks to review the drawings and the documents. The tender is planned to be held in April.

Kaynasli Community Centre: The centre was inaugurated on 27th of March. Some extra works such as an efficient ventilation system for the multipurpose hall has been supplemented.

Construction projects of the Branch Buildings at Gölcük and Düzce The construction works at Gölcük have been started on 21st of March and it is planned to be completed in August according to the working schedule. The ground breaking ceremony will be held on 15th of April.

For the construction project at Düzce after signing the MoU between the GRC and the Federation, the GRC received a plan of action, a time schedule and rough drawings from the Federation. All these documents have been sent to headquarters in Germany. The GRC is waiting for the further procedures to be carried out by the Federation.

Water-sanitation

Companies have been visited for pre-qualification of the Avluburun Water Treatment Plant project. The preparation of the technical elements of the Kaynasli project proposal, for the application document was presented the Swiss Red Cross for approval. A field evaluation and observation of Afyon earthquake consequences was also conducted.

Avluburun WTP project:

The evaluation of the bidding of the seven prequalified companies took place in Izmit, at Kocaeli Governorship on February 28, 2002. The Tender Commission was composed of representatives of Kocaeli Governorship, Koy Hizmetleri Provincial Directorate, the TRCS Istanbul Regional Directorate and the Federation Watsan team.

The succesful bidder was selected and the Tender cost of the project was ultimately established at CHF 983,450 which is a reduction of CHF 121,550 from the initial tender.

The Federation Watsan team has reviewed, the Recommended Core Contract Conditions for the contract to be signed between the Kocaeli Governorship and the Contractor.

Afyon Earthquake

An evaluation survey for Afyon Earthquake took place on February the 12th , 2002, in Sultandag, Cay and Eber localities. No watsan action is required as the water and sanitation systems seems to be in good conditions.

Water Purification Units

German Red Cross Watsan delegate arrived in Ankara at the beginning of March and started to work at TRCSs Etimesgut warehouse. By the end of March, all the field hospital equipment and materials and water purification units donated by the GRC were classified and organized in order to be used in an emergency situation.

A training session for the TRCS staff on how to use the water purification units in an emergency case and how they should be regularly maintained will be organized. The German Red Cross is also willing to contribute to the procurement of a complete mass water set for the TRCS in case of a disaster.

Health and Care

Community Centres Program

At the end of, the Psychological Support Programme (PSP) Officer from the Federation Secretariat in Geneva, visited the Turkey Delegation Field Office in Istanbul. This was an opportunity for the CCP to look at the integration process between the PSP and SWP to identify the achievements and to recognize the lessons learned as well as the challenges regarding the implementation process. A meeting was also held with participation of the TCRS and the head of delegation, expectations of the TRCS and the Federation regarding the programme were clarified.

Frequency of visits in the CCP centres in Avcilar, Izmit and Duzce:

Activities

The activities, which have been developed and implemented by the help of volunteers include:

Pusula CCP Center (Duzce):

• Usual visits to the prefabricated settlement areas
• Individual support in the Dialyzes Centre of Düzce State Hospital in coordination with the new social worker who has been recruited for the hospital.
• Individual counselling sessions in Kaynasli Health Unit has been handed over to the professionals in Kaynasli CCP center
• Poetry club
• Play and discussion group for child hawkers. There has been arranged for Kizilay to provide food aid to these children and to organise a "children cinema show" for them in Düzce Cinema Hall. In addition to that, children practice theatre plays with the supervision of a theatre teacher and the administrative assistant of the center.
• Theatre group met once a week.
• Music group met once a week.
• Folk dance group.
• Workshop on disaster preparedness organized by UMCOR
• A group work with Düzce Trade High Schools teachers about communication skills needed for forming good supportive relationships with students.
• English course
• Activities around